Fondation Louis Vuitton

April 19, 2017

I don’t think I was anything like properly prepared to choose my career when I was a teenager. I don’t know that anyone is, but nonetheless – I hated math classes in school, so I wasn’t willing to pursue any career paths that would require post-secondary level math courses. That’s how I wound up with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. The fact is, most of the things I find truly fascinating require quite a lot of mathematics – architecture in particular. It’s difficult to say if I would have had the required mathematical aptitude to become an architect, but in my next life, if I get one, I think I might try, because I seem to spend an incredible amount of time in this life looking up, contemplating the buildings around me. My favourite architecture is, admittedly, the Haussmanian variety, which is far from modern, but I’ve been a fan of Frank Gehry since I had the chance to experience his work first hand at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Naturally, when the Fondation Louis Vuitton, designed by Frank Gehry, opened in 2014, it immediately went on my list of must-visit places in Paris. Somehow, though, we haven’t managed to make it there until this year. Luckily, some places are worth the wait, and the FLV museum is absolutely one of them. There is only one exhibit on right now, the Observatory of Light by Daniel Buren. All of Daniel Buren’s work is done “in situ”, which is to say that he integrates his art into existing spaces – for the Observatory of Light, coloured panels were inserted into the glass sails of the building, replacing the clear ones that are usually there, to create a prism effect. It was a bit overcast on the day of our visit, so we didn’t see as many reflections as you might, but the experience of walking under all the different colours was still utterly fascinating. The Fondation Louis Vuitton is a bit far afield if you’re on a short trip to the city of light, but I think it’s still very much worth the visit – and, as a further curiosity, the purchase of a ticket allows you free entrance to the Jardin d’Acclimatation, a leisure park with a very unusual history that is home to some very cute zoo animals.

Fondation Louis Vuitton
Bois de Boulogne
8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, 75116 Paris, France
01 40 69 96 00

En adolescente, je n’étais pas du tout prête à choisir quoi faire comme carrière. J’imagine que personne ne l’est vraiment, mais néanmoins – je détestais les cours de maths, donc je refusais absolument toute matière principale qui demandait que je suive des cours de maths. C’est comme ça que j’ai enfin obtenu ma licence en beaux-arts. Je sais maintenant que la bonne partie des domaines qui m’intéressent vraiment comprennent pas mal de mathématiques – surtout l’architecture. À vrai dire, je ne suis pas certaine que j’eusse l’aptitude nécessaire en mathématiques pour poursuivre des cours en architecture, et cependant, lors de ma prochaine vie, je crois que c’est exactement ça que je vais étudier, car je passe énormément de temps à lever mes yeux pour contempler les immeubles qui m’entourent. J’avoue que j’aime surtout l’architecture Haussmannienne, qui n’est pas du tout moderne, et pourtant je suis fan de Frank Gehry depuis que j’ai eu la chance de visiter le musée Guggenheim à Bilbao. Bien sûr, il me tarde de visiter la Fondation Louis Vuitton, conçue par Frank Gehry, depuis qu’elle a ouvert ses portes en 2014. Mais ce n’est que cette année que je l’ai enfin vue de mes propres yeux. Je suis heureuse de pouvoir vous dire qu’il valait le coup d’attendre un moment où nous pouvions profiter de quelques bonnes heures à la fondation, sans nous presser. En ce moment, il n’y a qu’une exposition, L’Observatoire de la Lumière par Daniel Buren. M. Buren fait tout oeuvre “in situ” – c’est-à-dire qu’il incorpore son travail artistique dans des lieux qui existent déjà. À la Fondation Louis Vuitton, il a remplacé la moitié des panneaux transparents par des panneaux colorés, afin de créer un effet de prisme. Il ne faisait pas trop soleil lors de notre visite, donc nous avons vu moins de coloris, et cependant, l’expérience de balader à travers le rose, le bleu et le vert fut captivant. C’est vrai que la FLV n’est pas au centre-ville et donc si vous n’êtes pas à Paris pendant longtemps, il se peut que le trajet vous semble un peu loin, mais je vous jure qu’il vaut la peine du voyage en métro – et en plus, vous pouvez aussi voir le jardin d’acclimatation, qui se trouve directement devant la FLV. L’histoire de ce jardin est plutôt curieuse, mais il héberge quelques animaux domestiques très mignon.

7 comments so far.

7 responses to “Fondation Louis Vuitton”

  1. lyddiegal says:

    I can still see how splendid this installation is, even on the overcast day. I love when art becomes a part of life, and not just something which is viewed.
    I hope in my next lifetime I could be good at math too, and I’d be curious to see where that would take me.
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  2. Lorena says:

    I hated math too. I still do.
    Oh I had never thought of planning a visit to Paris and including the Fondation LV. We have a building designed by Gehry here, it houses a biodiversity museum and I am lucky enough to see it from a distance from my bedroom window.

  3. Lorena says:

    I hated math too. I still do.
    Oh I had never thought of planning a visit to Paris and including the Fondation LV. We have a building designed by Gehry here, it houses a biodiversity museum and I am lucky enough to see it from a distance from my bedroom window.
    Forgot to add a link with the building pictures here in case you’re curious 🙂 http://myeverydaywear.blogspot.com/2015/03/at-museum.html

  4. I’ve always imagined that being an architect would be such an interesting & fascinating job! And this post is proof of that… I absolutely love Frank Gehry and the panels are so unique and gorgeous!! Plus love the curves / how they flow through out the space!! On that note, I hope you’re having the best time in Venice and enjoying ALL the beautiful buildings. Your snaps + insta’s have been 100% drool worthy!! xo

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  5. Melissa @ Bubby & Bean says:

    Absolutely stunning! I would love to see this in person. I’m fascinated h architecture too.

  6. Lyndi says:

    Such a beautiful building! I loved seeing your snapchats from this visit.
    Definitely on my Paris list now 🙂
    Lyndi xo

    http://www.stylecalling.com

  7. HaHa Cee! I’m the same way. I love architecture & design and I’m horrendous when it comes to math. This is beautiful.
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Cee Fardoe is a thirty-something Canadian blogger who splits her time between Winnipeg and Paris. She is a voracious reader, avid tea-drinker, insatiable wanderer and fashion lover who prefers to dress in black, white and gray.

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